Alternative Health Tips

by G. Kumar

Naturopathy is Swasha Vritha or the prophylactic or preventive aspect. Ayurveda is the Athura Vritha or Therapy. Both are related sciences.

Daily Routines or Dinacharya, according to Ayurveda The ideal time to get up is 04.30 AM. This is known as Brahma Muhurtha or the Time of Brahman, the Absolute. After getting up, one should know the condition of the body. Then one should brush one's teeth and go to toilet for bowel movement. One should brush teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Then one should go in for an oil bath. Oil, preferably coconut oil should be used. This oil should be pasted all over the body and one should wait for at least 30 minutes and then take a bath. Cold bath is ideal but for those suffering from diseases hot water bath is good. Oil bath gives you good sleep. Weakness of the body will disappear. Your body will grow in strength. Your eyes will sparkle. "Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam" says Ayurveda ( Daily you should go in for oil bath ). But those suffering from indigestion and excess Kapha should not go in for oil bath. Pathya - Diet Control When Ayurvedic medicines are taken, one should observe Pathya or diet control.

The six tastes of Ayurveda are - sweet, bitter, astringent, sour, pungent and salty.

Those suffering from Hyperacidity or Ulcer should not take in foods that are sour or pungent. This is known as Pathya. For every disease, there are foods that should not be taken in. For people suffering from heart trouble or cholesterol, eggs, meat, beef etc should not be taken in. This is Pathya.

Now there is a saying in Ayurveda that for one observing Pathya, there is no need for medicine, as negative food is phased out and spontaneous cure takes place. Also for one not observing Pathya, as intake of medicines become useless, as negative food devastates his disease. Pathya means the Way to Health. Apathya means taking in the negative food which foster the disease.

Banana - Nature's Tonic

The Banana is full of vitamins and minerals. It contains iron, phosphorus and vitamins like Niacin and Riboflavin. A big banana can confer more than 200 calories.

The fructose contained in banana turns to energy after intake. Along with protein and starch, it contains minerals like sulphur, iron, magnesium, copper and calcium. There is less fat content in bananas. Bananas will reduce the acidity in blood. It contains Vitamins C, A, B, D & E.

Along with bananas, warm milk should be taken. This is the ideal food for growing children. But then the obese should not take milk along with bananas. As Bananas have Rasayana properties, use of it will keep you young. You can live for months only on bananas. Bananas can be used as medicine for patients with liver complaints and for digestive tract disorders. Also it can be taken by those suffering from Malnutrition and Scurvy. Also for patients suffering from eye and dental diseases. ( as it contains Vitamin A & Cacium ).

Continence or Brahmacharya

By Continence or Brahmacharya, we mean the control of libidinal life. Both Ojas ( Light ) and Veerya ( Virility ) are based on the Seventh Tissue Element, Semen. Avoid the misuse of this great Dhathu, says Ayurveda. Too much indulgence in sex makes you lose this Seventh Tissue Element and this will result in weakness of body. Body ache, headache etc will be the result. Loss of semen adversely affects reversely the other Six Tisssue Elements.

If you observe Brahmacharya ( practise Continence ), improved memory, grasping power, physical strength, discriminative intellect, mental happiness, increase of Ojas or effulgence on the face etc will be the result. In order to have good health, you have to control sex. But then as pure Brahmacharya is impossible for married men, controlled Brahmacharya or celibacy is advocated.

Insomnia

Lack of sleep is due to many factors - anxiety, mental tension, over exercise, emotional suffering etc. When anger and enmity are suppressed, sleeplessness is the result. Constipation, digestive tract disorders, coffee, tea etc will destroy sleep. Thoughts about sleeplessness will only compound the problem. Use of sleeling pills is not ideal. You may have to depend on such pills. And increasing the quantity is asking for trouble. If alcohol is taken along with pills, there will repercussions. Avoid beverages like Cola, tea and coffee. And take in less fatty foods. Avoid fried foods.

Take only small quantity of food at night. If you have warm milk before going to sleep, if you keep the mind tranquil, you will doze off to slumberland. You should take food 3 hours before going to bed. It will be better if you can hear peaceful music. Reading is also a good habit which will take you to slumberland. You should walk at least half an hour before going to sleep. It will help to digest the food taken. Meditation will give you good sleep.

Constipation

The modern fast food culture is responsible for Constipation. Anxiety, fear, mental tension - all these create Constipation. Naturopaths averr that constipation is the root cause of all diseases. Some antacids also create Constipation. In certain conditions, water will be absorbed in the Colon and faecal matter may solidify. Such hard stools are difficult to dislodge. Lack of proper timing of food, anxiety, mental problems etc all cause Constipation. Constipation will create back pain, weight in the stomach, headache, loss of appetite etc.

Intake of fruits and vegetables organically grown, 12 glasses of water daily, ensure mental peace, correct bowel movements - all these will cure constipation.

Gas Trouble or Hyperacidity

This is a very common disease. In India, there are very few homes without antacid tablets! On one side, we take a lot of antacids and on the other take in acidic foods! Amongst the six tastes, that which is sour, pungent and salty foster hyperacidity. Fried foods, foods containing Masala, very cold drinks, potato, plantains - all these foster gas trouble. Lack of exercise is one of the causative factors. Also working seated for long hours. Mental tensions also foster this disease. It is not what you eat, but it is what eats you that is the cause of this common disease.

Mental pain, thoughts of revenge, fear - all these pave the way for this malady. There is an Emotional Center in the brain. When we have mental upsets, this emotional center stimulates the oxintic cells in our stomach to secrete hyrochloric acid. Lots of gas going from the rectal tract, indigestion - all these are the symptoms of gas trouble. Naturopaths averr that constipation is the cause of this disease, nay, for all diseases!

Hurry, worry and curry are the main causative factors for this disease. Eating food fast, overeating, foods with masala, sour, pungent, salty foods, pickles, chillies, potato, soda, cola, chilled beer, nictoine, alcohol, very hot foods, chewing gum - all these cause hyperacidity. Prevention is better than cure. Avoid the Apathya foods and be healthy!

Contradictory Foods

Contradictory foods are known in Ayurveda as "Samyoga Viruddha". When contradictory foods are taken in, it will increase the Doshic imbalance and becomes the cause of many diseases. Shrimp and milk, fish and butter, sour fruits and milk are some examples of contradictory foods. They are to be avoided at all costs.

Chicken and butter should not be taken in simultaneously. Honey and ghee in equal quantities also is prohibited in Ayurveda

Colon Hydrotherapy

Naturopathy says that diseases are caused by the accumulation of morbid matter. Natural Hygiene says the cause is Toxemia, or the infusion of toxins into the blood.

One of the methods of cleaning the colon is enema or colon hydrotherapy. I have been practising enema for the last 18 years. In 1989, while I was participating in an Exhibition Stall in Trichur ( a 41 day affair ), the nearest stall was a Naturopathy stall and the Chief Naturopath told me that the best way to get rid of gas trouble was to take 15 light enemas.

I bought an enema can and have been doing this when I have any rectal block. This therapy is effective as we can see putrified faecal matter going out 10 minutes after the enema is administered. This is Jalopasana or Water Therapy or Hydro Therapy. All the ancient cultures advocated Hydro Therapy, as water has got tremendous medicinal properties. Not only faecal matter, but gas, mucous and toxins go out of the rectal tract.

Fasting Therapy

Fasting Therapy is one of the best therapies. The digestive system gets rest during fasting. " ankhanam Paramoushadam " - Fasting is the best medicine. Water Fasting, Fruit Fasting, Juice fasting --- there are many types of fasting. Juice Fasting is superior to Water Fasting as the body is supported nutritionally.

The basic principle of Naturopathy is that Nature has healing power and that the Five Doctors are the Elemental Five -Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. ( Annam Brahma ). By Annam is not meant Food, but the Five Doctors, the Five Elements. " The Five Doctors are the best, as the Five Elements are prior to all ", declares the Upanishads. ( Annam hi bhoothanam jyeshtyam, thasmad Sarvoushadam Uchyathe )

Ghee - The True Rasayana

Rasayana Therapy is Rejuvenation Therapy. That which rejuvenates the body is Rasayana. Ghee is considered to be the True Rasayana. All Ayurvedic preparations are based on ghee, I mean, almost all the Rasayanas. Ghee contains Vitamins A E, K D etc. Beta Carotene & Vitamin A are anti-oxidants. Diseases are caused by the excessive production of Free Radicals and these two are antidontes to Free Radicals. The famous Chyavan Prash is based on Ghee. It is said that the Rasayanas confer beauty, longevity, intelligence, youthfulness, health etc. Ghee, taken in moderate quantities, will confer these.